It seems fitting that the first official TVYT blog entry is at ridiculous-time-oclock the night before our first Summer Play In A Week (PIAW). I’m up late, pondering the week ahead and I have all the bubbly anticipation of a child on Christmas Eve. Of course, TVYT has done many of these projects but this is only my 4th PIAW and I’m both bouncing off the walls with excitement and nervous at the same time. And this has made me ask the question… Why? Why, as a fully fledged adult, am I nervous? The truth is, that some of the young people involved in this PIAW have 4 times as much experience in these type of projects than I do. There’s a good chance that they would need more than their allocated two hands to count the number of PIAW projects that they have been involved in. How impressive is that? Some of them haven’t missed one since they joined. And the stories that they tell, make every single one of the shows seem more exciting than the last. I’ve heard fantastical tales of: sets made completely out of rubbish!!!; mad professors; secret speakeasys (in Riding Mill… who would have thought?); random acts of kindness…with cake; skills on how to spot witches. The list goes on and on. Who wouldn’t be a little nervous when starting a new project and trying to make sure it proudly carries the reputation of the past million-squillion (it might be fewer than that) PIAWs. So, what is the secret? How does the team at TVYT manage to make a PIAW happen? I have a theory…

I think it could have something to do with the mutual respect between the facilitators and the young people.

It could be the unwavering commitment and dedication of the cast.

Or that the idea at the very core of the show could come from anyone; old or new; young or old.

It could possibly include the sugar highs created by the tuck shop.

Maybe it has something to do with there always being someone to hold your hand when you’re about to jump into something that seems scary or crazy… quite possibly both.

It’s possible that the giggles and tears we share bring us closer together.

Cake might have something to do with it.

It’s probable that it couldn’t be done without parents lending us their young people and letting them be obsessed to the point of crazy for a whole week!!

The lighting and sound technicians probably have something to do with it too, you know, these shows end up looking pretty good!

There’s definitely a pizza supper that renders us all silent before a show while we eat as though we’re starved!

You know what? I’m not sure I am nervous…Because in writing this blog, I realised that I am lucky enough to have been welcomed into this family: this nutty, enthusiastic bunch! I know that they’re there for me as much as I will be there for them. We’re in it together… and that is pretty special… the cake helps. So, ‘The Birds Stop To Listen’, based on the Hunger Games. Bring it on, because I know, wherever this week takes us, it’ll be somewhere spectacular.

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Welcome to TVYT's blog. Written by TVYT facilitators, members,technicians and audiences, this blog is here to tell you what we're up to. You'll get to see the inner workings of the TVYT world from many different perspectives and you'll meet many of the people that make TVYT possible.